Chapter 33: The Parent Child Messaging Talisman!
A month later.
Beneath the waterfall, the formation glimmered as it activated, summoning a raging ball of purple flames. At the center of the blazing fire, Lu Bu sat calmly, cross legged and unmoving.
Compared to his first attempt at tempering his body with the Purple Crystal Source, Lu Bu was noticeably more composed this time. When an entire bottle of the Purple Crystal Source was fully consumed, there were no significant visible changes to his body.
"The effects have halved compared to the last time..." Lu Bu frowned slightly. This round of body tempering seemed less impressive than before. It appeared that using the Purple Crystal Source for tempering had reached its limit. Any further attempts would only waste this precious resource.
Clenching his fist, Lu Bu suddenly unleashed a punch.
Boom!
A deafening sonic boom echoed as a large explosion of water erupted from the lake's surface. This punch contained no battle energy nor any soul power just pure physical strength.
Not far away, Xiao Yan's mouth twitched as he witnessed this. "Teacher, even a high level Dou Master wouldn't survive that punch, right?"
"A low level Dou Spirit wouldn't fare much better either," Yao Lao replied in a calm tone. This tempering method was quite extraordinary. Yao Lao had considered letting Xiao Yan try something similar, but...
First, the Purple Crystal Source was an exceptionally rare treasure, and he knew Lu Bu would undoubtedly ask for a steep price to share it. That guy was a notorious cheapskate who wouldn't easily part with something so valuable.
Second, while Yao Lao couldn't detect any immediate drawbacks in this method, just because it worked for Lu Bu didn't mean it was suitable for Xiao Yan. Yao Lao already had a meticulous cultivation plan laid out for Xiao Yan step by step, clear and deliberate. He wasn't about to deviate from that for something he didn't fully understand.
Lu Bu flexed his arm and pinched the skin, pleased by its resilience.
"Not bad... There's still a little room for improvement, but I'm close to laying the groundwork for cultivating the Lesser Nirvana Golden Body..." Lu Bu rubbed his chin in thought. The Dou Qi continent lacked the Nirvana Qi necessary to refine the full Nirvana Golden Body.
However, that wasn't much of a problem. His goal wasn't the authentic Nirvana Golden Body but rather its lesser variant.
The Lesser Nirvana Golden Body was a martial technique that utilized Nirvana Qi to refine the body, combined with specific techniques to mimic the effects of the true golden body.
While the Lesser Nirvana Golden Body was something that could be cultivated, the genuine Nirvana Golden Body was a natural phenomenon tied to the laws of heaven and earth, akin to how Dou Kings naturally gained the ability to condense battle wings. The real Nirvana Golden Body was unattainable through cultivation.
Fortunately, the so called "Nirvana Qi" was merely a special type of energy and could be substituted. Something like the Purple Crystal Source, for instance, was a feasible alternative.
However, after using two bottles of the Purple Crystal Source, Lu Bu only had five bottles left. He wasn't sure if that would provide the immense amount of energy required to refine the golden body...
Scratching his chin, Lu Bu decided to put the idea of cultivating the Lesser Nirvana Golden Body on hold. He would wait until he found better resources, perhaps something like the Lotus Seed of the Green Lotus Core Flame.
Raising his hand, a cluster of purple flames danced in his palm. It was time to refine this flame. But first...
"Xiao Yan, take a look at this purple flame. What do you think?" Lu Bu asked with a sly smile, holding the flame up in his hand.
Not far away, Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. Here we go again. This guy was clearly plotting to squeeze him for something.
"I know you're a fellow alchemist. Just imagine it using this purple flame for alchemy or combat. Jie... wouldn't that be incredible?" Lu Bu rubbed his hands together, his smile growing wider.
Xiao Yan: "..."
I want to leave, but the treasures he offers are impossible to refuse.
Xiao Yan was already fed up with the drawbacks of his low level Huang rank technique. Although this purple flame wasn't a Heavenly Flame, the Flame Mantra could devour even Heavenly Flames, so this beast flame was certainly within reach.
"Teacher, what do you think?" Xiao Yan turned to ask Yao Lao. After all, Lu Bu wasn't trading with him directly but rather with Yao Lao, the only one capable of offering what Lu Bu wanted.
With a flicker of light, Yao Lao's form materialized from the ring. He floated out and cast a glance at the purple flame in Lu Bu's palm.
"This purple flame... you cultivated it using the Purple Crystal Source, didn't you?" Yao Lao said.
"As expected of the esteemed Yao Venerable!" Lu Bu chuckled and gave a thumbs up in admiration. "Sharp eyes!"
"You've nurtured it for about a month, haven't you? Are you really willing to part with it?" Yao Lao asked nonchalantly. "Or are you hoping to trade it for more Purple Crystal Source?"
"Neither. I'm not giving up the flame or the Source." Lu Bu grinned. Before Yao Lao or Xiao Yan could respond, he pulled out another flame.
"This, however, is up for trade," Lu Bu said, presenting a flickering green flame.
"The Azure Nether Fire," Yao Lao murmured, his eyes narrowing. "The beast flame of a fifth tier magical beast, the Azure Flame Eagle?"
As expected of someone who'd spent a lifetime mastering flames, Yao Lao immediately recognized the origin of the fire in Lu Bu's hand.
The Azure Flame Eagle was a rare flying magical beast, known for its incredible speed and ferocity. Capturing one was no easy task, let alone acquiring its beast flame.
"So, what do you think?" Lu Bu asked with a sly grin.
"It's good," Yao Lao nodded. While not as strong as the Purple Crystal Source fire, it wasn't far behind.
"What do you want in exchange?"
"I have a friend..." Lu Bu rubbed his chin. "She possesses a rare and troublesome constitution the Woeful Poison Body. Do you happen to know a way to resolve it, old sir?"
Yao Lao raised an eyebrow. Old sir?
In the past, you called me an "old bastard." Now that you need me, you're calling me "sir"?
"There is a way!" Yao Lao said in a grave tone. "I once had a friend who also suffered from the Woeful Poison Body. After years of research, we discovered a solution. However... he passed away from a poison outbreak before he could use it."
"This solution is something he and I developed together. It is rare... extremely rare!"
"And what exactly are you trying to say, old sir?" Lu Bu felt a sense of foreboding creep up.
"Pay up!" Yao Lao said with a sly grin.
Lu Bu's mouth twitched. He felt an urge to curse.
"Add a bottle of the Purple Crystal Source!" Yao Lao shamelessly raised the price.
"How about I offer information instead?" Lu Bu coldly countered. "A piece of intel on why the Soul Hall is capturing so many souls."
"No way... Wait, what?" Yao Lao, who had been prepared to refuse, froze mid sentence.
This was important. For centuries, the Soul Hall had been collecting souls across the continent with seemingly no clear benefit, yet their persistence never wavered. No one had been able to deduce their purpose.
"Damn it..." Yao Lao's expression twitched. If it were a choice between the Purple Crystal Source and critical information, the Purple Crystal Source would significantly accelerate Xiao Yan's cultivation.
But... this was a tough decision.
"Take the information!" Xiao Yan said firmly. "I need to know what they're doing. I need to know why they're after my teacher!"
Yao Lao was currently Xiao Yan's greatest asset, and Xiao Yan would never risk losing him. He would rather forfeit his three year promise than see Yao Lao in danger.
Lu Bu looked at Yao Lao. Ultimately, Xiao Yan wasn't the one who could make the final decision here.
"The information," Yao Lao said after a moment of contemplation. The Soul Hall, along with Han Feng, had orchestrated a plot to kill him. Without understanding the underlying motives, he couldn't rest easy.
"Jie... The Soul Hall's reason for capturing souls is to extract their soul essence," Lu Bu said with a mischievous smile. "Old sir, you should know both the purpose of soul essence and the consequences of losing it, right?"
Yao Lao's expression shifted. As an alchemist, he was well aware of the devastating effects of losing one's soul essence. At best, it caused irreparable damage to the soul; at worst, it led to complete annihilation.
Being captured by the Soul Hall meant enduring unimaginable torment, even if one survived.
"No wonder... no wonder they are so fixated on alchemists," Yao Lao murmured in realization. Alchemists had strong souls with dense soul essences. Moreover, unlike other powerful cultivators, alchemists lacked overwhelming combat strength, making them an easy target for the Soul Hall.
Lu Bu chuckled silently. The Soul Hall wasn't just collecting souls for their essence. While the essence could forcibly elevate one's soul to the Emperor level, the Soul Clan had another purpose: they were preparing formations. The Soul Heaven Emperor relied on the life devouring array that the Soul Hall had painstakingly laid down over the years to refine his Emperor level pill.
Once he reached Central Plains, Lu Bu decided he would systematically destroy the Soul Hall's locations. Not only would this allow him to claim soul essences to strengthen himself, but it would also serve to thwart the Soul Heaven Emperor.
After a moment of contemplation, Yao Lao snapped out of his thoughts. Lu Bu didn't rush him, simply rubbing his hands together with a grin as he waited.
Seeing this, Yao Lao snorted coldly and flicked his fingers, sending a dark gray scroll shooting toward Lu Bu. Lu Bu caught it, opened it, and saw that it indeed detailed a solution involving poison pills.
If he could, Lu Bu would've preferred to help Xiao Yi Xian acquire the Netherworld Poison Flame, ranked 20th among Heavenly Flames. Unfortunately, he had no idea where to find it, so he would have to search for it later.
"Oh, by the way," Lu Bu said, storing the scroll in his ring. "In a few days, I'll be leaving the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
"What?!" Xiao Yan was startled. Was this guy planning to take the reward and skip out?
"Why do you look so shocked?" Lu Bu said irritably. "Do I look like the type to go back on my word?"
"I'm going to find a few reinforcements," Lu Bu explained. "Some Dou Kings or Dou Emperors. With just the three of us, I'm not confident about heading to the Yun Lan Sect."
"Oh... so that's what you meant." Xiao Yan wiped the sweat off his brow. Thankfully, it wasn't the worst case scenario.
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. As if he would run away he was still counting on Yao Lao to help him deal with Protector Wu!
With a flick of his wrist, Lu Bu tossed over a palm sized jade token.
"What's this?" Xiao Yan caught it reflexively. He examined it closely and could only discern that it contained an intricate formation. Beyond that, he was clueless.
"The Parent Child... or Parent Father Thousand Mile Communication Talisman!" Lu Bu said solemnly, his tone serious. "What you're holding is the 'Child.' If you want to contact me, just infuse it with your soul power, and we'll be able to talk in real time."
The creation of this item was somewhat troublesome. The formation was complex, and the communication range wasn't particularly long. It was something Lu Bu had tinkered with and devised himself.
Xiao Yan's eye twitched. Ignoring the ridiculous name, this thing was basically a telephone. Xiao Yan, being a fellow transmigrator albeit one whose circumstances weren't as apparent immediately recognized the concept.
"That puppet of mine is a gift to you consider it a parting token. See you in a year!"
With that, Lu Bu vanished into the sky, returning to the small valley.
Xiao Yan shrugged. After months of interacting with Lu Bu, he had come to realize that the man was surprisingly easygoing. He was trustworthy, kept his word, incredibly strong, and had an unparalleled sense of humor.
The only downside? He was too handsome. Lu Bu always stole the spotlight.
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